May 21/05 5:08 am - Canada Cup XC #1 Story

Drew MacKenzie of the Sugoi-Giant team has followed up with more details from today's opening round of the cross-country Canada Cup series in Bromont, Quebec.

In the women's race, it was Marie-Helene Premont (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects) from start to finish. The riders stayed pretty much in the order in which they finished, with the exception of third place, with Brazilian Jacqueline Mourao (Scott) overtaking Martina Feldmann late in the race.

In the men's race five riders stayed together at the front for most of the first two laps - Kris Sneddon and Peter Wedge (both Kona), Marty Lazarski (Rocky Mountain-Business Objects), Derek Zanstra (3 Rox Racing) and Mike Garrigan (Hardwood Hills). Roland Green (Kona) had a frustrating day. First, he got caught behind a crash in the first corner and had to chase up through 30 or so riders to get back to the front. He did this by the top of the first climb, and then promptly got a front flat 30 seconds into the descent. Drew says that there were a lot of hidden rocks - Sneddon flatted during the pre-ride.

Green fixed his flat and was making his way back up through the field, into the 20s, when he flatted again - a rear flat this time. He ran/rode three-quarters of a lap to the pit area, got a wheel change and kept riding for a couple more laps before finally pulling the plug.

At the front, the group split up a bit after two laps before reforming on the fourth lap. Derek Zanstra attacked at this point, opening up a sizable 40 second gap on Peter Wedge and Kris Sneddon. However, early in the fifth lap, it was his turn to suffer a puncture, dropping to eighth place before he got going again (eventually recovering to sixth).

This put Sneddon and Wedge in the lead, with Lazarski right behind, and Guido Visser (Cycles Lambert) moving up steadily from a poor start. Sneddon broke away to take the win, with Lazarski jumping by Wedge for second. Our correspondent Drew MacKenzie had, in his words, "a breakthrough ride", to finish 15th. More results to be posted shortly.

Note:

- Roland Green is heading back to B.C. for Bastion Square, and will be back east in Ontario for the Hardwood round of the Canada Cup.

- the course was similar to previous years, with the main climb extended a bit. A "really fun course", is the comment from most riders, according to Drew.